- Journalists, lawyers and human rights defenders stood trial in hearings monitored by MLSA this week. Journalist Sibel Gürcihan was acquitted, the case against Tuğçe Yılmaz was dismissed, and lawyer Doğa İncesu, a member of the Progressive Lawyers Association (ÇHD), was released from detention.
- Journalists İsmail Arı and Murat Ağırel were arrested and jailed pending trial, while an indictment was filed against journalist Fatih Ergin.
- Press freedom organizations issued a broad call for demonstrations in 10 cities under the slogan “No to censorship, freedom for news reporting,” protesting pressure and censorship targeting journalists.
MLSA monitored trials and developments involving journalism and freedom of expression during the week of Oct. 19. Of the hearings monitored, one ended in an acquittal, another in the dismissal of charges, and a detained defendant was released, while the remaining cases were adjourned. The week's developments also included the arrests of journalists and a call by press organizations for demonstrations against censorship in 10 cities.
Journalist Fatma Sibel Gürcihan was acquitted of charges of “publicly disseminating misleading information” and making threats over a social media post about former Turkish Treasury and Finance Minister Berat Albayrak. The Istanbul Anatolian 78th Criminal Court of First Instance issued the acquittal at the second hearing of her trial. Gürcihan had spent one month in pretrial detention before the first hearing and was subsequently released under judicial supervision, including a travel ban. Journalist Sibel Gürcihan acquitted.
The case against journalist Tuğçe Yılmaz under Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code, which criminalizes insulting the Turkish nation and state institutions, was dismissed. The charges stemmed from a news report published by Bianet titled “Young Armenians in Turkey speak out: 109 years of mourning.” At the third hearing, the Istanbul 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance dismissed the case on the grounds that the legal deadline for initiating proceedings had not been met. Case against journalist Tuğçe Yılmaz dismissed.
The first hearing in the trial of journalists Gözde Şeker Fırtına and İbrahim Kahveci on charges of “insult,” “slander” and using language allegedly inciting public hatred and rebellion was held at the Ankara 52nd Criminal Court of First Instance. The case, in which Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli is the complainant, was adjourned until Nov. 4, 2026, to allow the prosecutor to prepare a statement of opinion on the merits. An observer reported initially being denied access to the courtroom before eventually being admitted. The hearing began late due to the court's heavy workload. Trial of journalists Gözde Şeker and İbrahim Kahveci adjourned.
The fourth hearing in the trial of journalist Mehmet Baransu on slander charges was held at the Istanbul Anatolian 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance. The case, in which Dursun Çiçek is the complainant, was adjourned until Feb. 11, 2027, to allow the prosecutor to prepare a statement of opinion on the merits. Baransu was brought to the hearing in handcuffs. An observer reported that the judge interrupted Baransu while he was speaking and that a closed-door consultation took place during the hearing. Mehmet Baransu trial adjourned pending prosecutor’s opinion.
The 22nd hearing in the trial of 11 people, including lawyers Seda Şaraldı and Doğa İncesu, members of the Progressive Lawyers Association (ÇHD), on charges of “membership in a terrorist organization” was held at the Istanbul 32nd High Criminal Court. İncesu, who had been held in pretrial detention, was released subject to a travel ban, while the court ordered the continuation of judicial supervision measures against Şaraldı. The lawyers are reportedly being prosecuted over their professional activities. Observers were denied access to the hearing because of the courtroom’s limited capacity. The court adjourned the trial until April 13, 2027, to allow outstanding procedural matters to be addressed. Lawyer Doğa İncesu released in trial of ÇHD members.
The fourth hearing in the trial of 20 people, including journalist Fatoş Erdoğan, on charges of “publicly inciting the commission of a crime” over social media posts opposing the appointment of a government-appointed trustee to lead the Istanbul provincial branch of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) was held at the Istanbul 9th Criminal Court of First Instance. A discrepancy in the charges outlined in the original indictment had previously been resolved through a supplementary indictment. When defendant Cem Kılıç was delayed by traffic, the court waited approximately an hour for him to arrive so it could take his supplementary statement. The court adjourned the trial until Dec. 23, 2026, to address outstanding procedural matters. Trial involving journalist Fatoş Erdoğan adjourned.
The first hearing in the trial of journalist Canan Coşkun, documentary filmmaker Kazım Kızıl and Şaban Vatan, the father of Rabia Naz Vatan, whose death they have been investigating, was held at the Görele 1st Criminal Court of First Instance in Giresun province, on Turkey’s Black Sea coast. The case was brought following a complaint by Mürsel Küçükal, who had changed his testimony during the investigation into Rabia Naz’s death. An observer reported that Küçükal struggled to recall his earlier statement to the police, that the judge asked leading questions based on that statement and that the defendants’ defense statements were summarized in the hearing record rather than transcribed in full. The court ordered that judicial requests be issued to take witness testimony and that outstanding procedural matters be addressed, adjourning the trial until Jan. 28, 2027. Journalists Coşkun and Kızıl stand trial over investigation into Rabia Naz’s death.
The week’s news reports also included an update that journalist Bircan Değirmenci’s hearing had been adjourned. No further information was available about the case or the reason for the adjournment because a hearing monitoring report had not been provided. Journalist Bircan Değirmenci’s hearing adjourned.
In the trial of Can Öztürk over protests at Boğaziçi University, a prestigious public university in Istanbul, the prosecutor presented a statement of opinion on the merits and requested Öztürk’s acquittal. According to the published news report’s headline, the prosecutor’s recommendation marked a significant development as the case moved toward a verdict. Prosecutor seeks Can Öztürk’s acquittal in Boğaziçi University protest trial.
Other press freedom and freedom of expression developments this week
BirGün reporter İsmail Arı was arrested and jailed pending trial following a complaint by Ebubekir Şahin, former head of Turkey’s Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK), the country’s broadcasting regulator. Arı was referred to a Criminal Judgeship of Peace with a request for his arrest after being taken into police custody. In a statement issued through his lawyers following the ruling, Arı criticized the decision, saying the judge had refused to listen to him and interrupted his lawyers.
Journalist Murat Ağırel was arrested and jailed pending trial as part of an investigation involving the Sarıgül family. MLSA announced the development on its social media account on Oct. 19.
An indictment was filed against journalist Fatih Ergin, who has been held in pretrial detention for three weeks. Prosecutors charged Ergin with “publicly disseminating misleading information” and are seeking a prison sentence of between 18 months and 4 1/2 years.
Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) filed a new civil lawsuit seeking 600,000 Turkish lira in damages from the BirGün newspaper and BirGün TV host Zafer Arapkirli. The lawsuit alleges that remarks Arapkirli made during his Medyaterapi program damaged the party’s institutional reputation and violated its personal rights. The petition also challenged allegations linking the AKP to a funding scandal that had attracted public attention.
Approximately 100 employees were reportedly laid off at Albayrak Media Group, which owns the pro-government outlets Yeni Şafak, GZT and TVNET. According to an employee interviewed by Mezopotamya Agency, the company cited budget cuts and downsizing as reasons for the layoffs.
Journalist Bala Ateş Irmak, a board member of the Ankara branch of the Progressive Journalists Association (ÇGD), was reportedly subjected to physical interference by a bodyguard of Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu while covering a news event. The incident renewed concerns over obstruction and physical interference faced by journalists while reporting.
Press organizations call for protests against censorship
Press organizations called for demonstrations on Oct. 24 under the slogan “No to censorship, freedom for news reporting,” protesting pressure and censorship targeting journalists.
The demonstrations were planned in 10 Turkish cities: Adana, Ankara, Antalya, Bursa, Diyarbakır, Eskişehir, Istanbul, İzmir, Kocaeli and Van. Organizers aimed to protest restrictions on press freedom and draw attention to journalists’ working conditions.
